diff --git a/hbase-client/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/client/Scan.java b/hbase-client/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/client/Scan.java
index 708d6c73569..0be51c41efc 100644
--- a/hbase-client/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/client/Scan.java
+++ b/hbase-client/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/client/Scan.java
@@ -895,7 +895,9 @@ public class Scan extends Query {
   @Deprecated
   public Scan setSmall(boolean small) {
     this.small = small;
-    this.readType = ReadType.PREAD;
+    if (small) {
+      this.readType = ReadType.PREAD;
+    }
     return this;
   }
 
diff --git a/hbase-client/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/client/TestScan.java b/hbase-client/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/client/TestScan.java
index b0f6b196b10..941bcabddfb 100644
--- a/hbase-client/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/client/TestScan.java
+++ b/hbase-client/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/client/TestScan.java
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 package org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client;
 
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertFalse;
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertTrue;
 import static org.junit.Assert.fail;
 
@@ -292,4 +293,15 @@ public class TestScan {
     assertTrue("Make sure copy constructor adds all the fields in the copied object",
       EqualsBuilder.reflectionEquals(scan, scanCopy));
   }
+
+  @Test
+  public void testScanReadType() throws Exception {
+    Scan scan = new Scan();
+    assertFalse(scan.isSmall());
+    assertEquals(ReadType.DEFAULT, scan.getReadType());
+    Scan copyScan = new Scan(scan);
+    copyScan.setSmall(scan.isSmall());
+    assertFalse(copyScan.isSmall());
+    assertEquals(ReadType.DEFAULT, copyScan.getReadType());
+  }
 }